Automatic gun-firing device.



F. CONILL.

AUTOMATIC GUN FIRING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1912.

1,288,386, Patented D00. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET F. CONILL.

AUTOMATIC GUN FIRING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2H. 19]].

1,288,386. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F b r L;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERNAN CONILL. OF PORT JEFFERSON, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC GUN-FIRING DEVICE.

Application filed September 28, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERNAN CONILL, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, residing at Port Jefferson, Long Island, in the'county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gun-Firing Devices; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to an automatic gun firing device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient automatic gun firing device of comparatively inexpensive construction designed for use on rifles, machine guns, cannon and the like and equipped with means for automatically firing the gun when the bulls eye of a target or other object is in perfect alinement with the sight of the gun, thereby obviating the necessity of the marksman pulling the trigger at the proper moment when he sees the object in accurate alinement with his sight.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an automatic gun firing device of this character adapted to enable the telescope or sighting device to be held on an object by the marksman while he is adjusting the gun and capable of automatically firing the same when the object is in correct alinement with the sight of the gun.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a steadying mechanism by which any slight unsteadiness of the marksman is practically eliminated and the chances of missing the target orobject, provided the sights are properly set before firing, are considerably lessened if not completely eliminated.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the cla ns hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an auto- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Serial No. 193,862.

inatic firing device constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a gun.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the bellows, illustrating the arrangement of the front and rear iris diaphragm for throwing light upon the selenium cell when the sights of the gun are in proper alinement with the object at which the gun is aimed.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the light controlling device on the front sight of the gun.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4.4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar "iew on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. (3 is a detail view of the relay.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the trigger operating device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a telescope or sighting device of a gun 2. and the said telescope or sighting device is provided at the rear end with a plate 3 adapted to fit against the forehead of the marksman and to be secured to his head by a strap or band at. This will enable the operator or marksman to maintain his head in a steady position with the eye in lineljl- 'ith the aperture of the telescope or sighti g device. The telescope or sighting device is mounted for vertical and lateral oscillatory movement by means of a support 5 constituting a uni: versal joint and mounted for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis on one of the trunnions 6 of the gun and having a pivot at 7 arranged in a vertical position when the telescope or sighting device is horizontal. Any suitable support of this character may of course be employed for permitting the telescope or sighting device to swing vertically and laterally. The front portion of the tube of the telescope or sighting device is provided with a depending arm 8 which carries a box or casing 9 and connected to the latter is the rear end of bellows 10 which has its front end connected with a box or casing 11 carried by a front sight 12. The front sight 12, which is of the ordinary construction. is adjustable vertically and laterally with respect to the gun 2 in the usual manner to arrange the sights of the gun for the proper distance and the other conditions governing sight adjustment. As the device is applicable to various types of adjustable front sights a specific description of the same is deemed unnecessary.

The front box or casing contains a light producing device or a source of light consisting of an incandescent lamp 12, a dry battery 13, and a reflector 1 which is adapted to throw the light upon a front iris diaphragm 15. The bellows, which has parallel walls, that is its ends are of uniform diameter and it does not taper, forms a flexible connection between the front and rear boxes or casings l1 and 9 to permit independent adjustment or movement of the front sight and the telescope or sighting device, which constitutes a rear sight. The front iris diaphragm, which is of the ordinary construction, is adapted to enable a beam of light to be projected from the source of light through the bellows to the rear box or casing.

The rear box or casing contains an iris diaphragm 16 and the aperture thereof is adapted to aline with the aperture of the front iris diaphragm when the front sightof the gun is in alincment with the telescope or sighting device and the bulls eye or other object at which the gun is aimed. The iris diaphragms are connected with suitable supports or hangers 17 and 18 ecured to the front and rear boxes or casings but they may be mounted in any other desired manner, and the rear iris diaphragm is arranged to cooperate with light diffusing means 1!)- located opposite the aperture and interposed between the rear iris diaphragm and sele nium cell r circuit closing device 20. The selenium cell is connected with the hanger 18 by suitable braces 2-1 and the said cell or circuit closing device is adapted to operate in the usual manner to interrupt a more or less feeble current when it is in darkness and to have its resistance reduced by the light diffused by the said means 19 to permit a current to fiow through it and thereby operate as a light operated circuit closing device.

The selenium cell is arranged in circuit with the coils 22 of a relay 23, a resistance 21 and a battery which may be a storage battery or anv other suitable source of current. The resistance is adapted to cut down the current to the selenium cell so that the latter will, when not affected by light, have sufiicient resistance to prevent the flow f the current through it and permit the flow of li ht when the selenium cell is illuminated. A feeble current through the coils of the relay is adapted to attract the armature and close the circuit including the relay, one or more storage batteries 27 and a trigger operating device 28. The trigger operating device 28 is shown consisting of a solenoid 29, a core 30 and a lever 31 fulcrumed at 32 and adapted to be oscillated by the solenoid when the latter is energized and draws the ore 30 into it. A. spring 33 is connected with a bracket or support 3* and with the lever 31 for returning the same to its initial position when the circuit is broken or deenergized by the action of the relay or an interrupter or circuit closer The interrupter or circuit closer which may be of any desired construction.

is manually operable and is adapted to close the main circuit, 01' 'ather is adapted to interrupt one of the conductors thereof to prevent any accidental premature discharge of the gun so that just before the gun is brought to bear on the object the conductor may be made continuous for the automatic operation of the gun by the firing device.

The bellows constitutes a dark chamber and any suitable means may be employed for removing the dry cell from contact with the incandescent lamp, such as the removal or partial withdrawal of the battery when it is not desired to have the filament of the lamp in an incandescent state.

When it is desired to operate the firing device, the marksman places his forehead in position against the plate 3 so that the aperture of the telescope will be in proper alincment with one of his eyes and he looks through the telescope or sighting device to any object at which he is to shoot. \Vhen the marksman sees the object at which he is aiming, he manipulates the gun by means of the usual arm 36 until he brings the front sight of the gun within close distance of the rear sight, that is within close distance of alinement with the rear sight or sighting device. He then presses the security contact or circuit closing device 35 and continues the approaching movement of the sights. As soon as the front sight and rear sight coincide, the gun is automatically fired by the firing device.

The front and rear sights correspond with the apertures of the front and rear irisdiaphragms and these are brought into alinement with each other the instant the front and rear sights are brought into alincment by the movement of the front sight into aline- -ment with the rear sight or sighting device and the object. A beam of light, which mav be made infinitesimally small, is projected through the aperture of the rear iris diaphragm and caused to illuminate the selenium contact and reduce the resistance thereof so sight is brought into 'the front sight is made to coincide with the rear sight, the apertures of the front and rear iris diaphragms will coincide and a beam of light from the lamp will enter the rear box or casing and be diffused by the lenses and caused to fall on the selenium contactto lower the resistance thereof and allow a current to pass therethrough. Any form of light diffusing device may of course be employed. The rear sighting device may be changed at various angles and directed toward an object and as soon as the front alinement with the rear sight and the object, the new parallelo gram will be completed and the gun fired automatically.

It will be apparent. that the marksman aiming through the small apertures of the rear sighting device can keep this sighting device easily on the object, and it is a very easy matter. to adjust the gun and to move it until the front sight. coincides with the sighting apertures of the rear or telescope sight. and with the object aimed at and with the provision of the mechanism above described, the gun will be automatically fired at the precise moment of alinement of the sight and will hit the mark if the proper preliminary adjustment of the sight for distance and other conditions has been made. By lneans of the iris diaphragm, thevv beam of light can be regulated to allow more or less margin for hitting the object with a shell, as by decreasing the apertures of the. iris diaphragms, the beam of light can be decreased in diameter so that the coinciding of the apertures of the said diaphragms will have to be perfect for the gun to be fired. The contrary is the effect if the beain of light. is increased.

The gun firing device is also susceptible of use in daylight by removing the light producingdevice and for this purpose, the box or casing 11 is provided with a removable cover 37 adapted to be detached to enable the light-producing device to be taken out so that the daylight may be utilized for energizing the light operated circuit. Also the apparatus may be advantageously employed in firing torpedoes from destroyers as Well as from submarines and for dropping bombs and shells from aeroplanes and other flying machines.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic gun firing device including arear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and to move with the adjustment thereof, a light producing device carried by one of the sights, and a light operated circuit closing device carried by the other sight and arranged to close the circuit when the front sight is moved into alinement With the rear sight and the object at which the rear sighting device is aimed.

2. An automatic gun firing device il1cl1ul ing a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and to move with the adjustment thereof, a light producing device carried by one of the sights. a light operated circuit closing device carried by the other sightand arranged to close the circuit when the front sight is moved into alinement with the rear sight and the object at which the rear sighting device is aimed, and gun firing mechanism arranged in circuit with the said circuit closing device for automatically firing the gun.

An automatic gun firing device including a rear sightingdevice, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and to move with the adjustment thereof, a light producin device carried by one of the sights. a light operated circuit closing device carried by the other sight and arranged to close the circuit when the front sight is moved into alinement with the rear sight and the object at which the rear sighting device is aimed, gun firing mechanism an ranged in circuit with the said circuit closing device for automatically firing the gun, and a manually operable circuit closing device arranged in circuit with the firing mechanism.

&. An automatic gun firing device including a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and to move with the adjustment thereof, a light producing device carried by one of the sights. a light operated circuit closing device carried by the other sight and ar anged to close, the circuit when the front sight is moved into alinement with the rear sight and the object at which the rear sighting device is aimed, and firing mechanism arranged in circuit with the said circuit closing device and comprising a solenoid having a movable core, a lever connected with the core, and means for automatically returning the lever to its initial position when the solenoid is denergized.

5. An automatic gun firing device including a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and to move with the adjustment thereof, a light producing device carried by one of the sights, a light ope 'ated circuit closing device carried by the other sight and arranged to close the circuit when the front sight is moved into alinement with the rear sight and the object at which the rear sighting device is aimed, a relay arranged in circuit with the said circuit closing device, and firing mechanism controlled by the operation of the relay.

6. An automatic gun firing device including a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and moved with the adjustment thereof, means for mounting the rear sighting device for permitting independent movement of the same, iris diaphragms connected with the front sight and with the rear sighting device and adapted to have their apertures brought in alinement when the front sight is alined with the rear sighting device and the bject at which the same is aimed, a source of light arranged at one of the diaphragms for projecting light through the other diapragin when the apertures of the diaphragms are in alinement, and firing mechanism having a circuit provided with a selenium contact arranged to be operated on by the said light when the said apertures are in alinement;

7. An automatic gun firing device including a rear sighting device,a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and moved with the adjustment thereof, means for mounting the rear sighting device for permitting independent movement of the same, boxes or casings connected with the front sight and the rear sighting device and provided with iris diaphragms, a source of light located within one of the boxes or cas ings, a selenium contact located within the other box or casing and arranged to be illuminated by the said source of light. when the apertures f the diaphragins are in alinement.

8. An automaticgun firing device including a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and moved with the adjustment thereof, means for mounting the rear sighting device for permit-ting independent movement of the same, boxes or casings connected with the front sight and the rear sighting device and provided with iris diaphragins, a source of light. located within one of the boxes or casings, a selenium contact located 'within' the other box or casing and arranged to be illuminated by the said source of liglit when the apertures of the diaphragms are in alinement, and light diffusing means arranged to diffuse the light projected contact. v

9 An automatic gun firing device including a. rear sighting device, a front sight de-' Signed to be connected wlth a gun and moved with the adjustment thereof, means for mounting the rear sightingdevice for permitting independent movement of the same,

boxes or casmgs connected witlrthe front sight and the rear sighting device and provided withirisdiaphragms, a source of light located within one of the boxes or casings, a selenium contact located Within ,the other boxer casing and arranged to be illuminated bv the said SOill'Ce of ,ligl'it when th'e apen tures I of v the diaphragms are inf alinement, a bellows connectingthe boxes or casmgs 1 and firing, mechanism controlled by the selenium contact. i i

10. An automatic gun firing device includupon the selenium sights are in alinement.

ing a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and moved with the adjustment thereof, means for mounting the rear sighting device for permitting independent movement of the same, boxes or casings connected with the front sight and the rear sighting device and provided with his diaphragms, a source of light located within one of the boxes or casings, a selenium contact located within the other box or casing and arranged to be illuminated by the said source of light when the apertures of the diaphragmsare in alinement, a bellows connecting the boxes or casings, a circuit including the selenium contact and provided with a-resistance and having a source of current supply, a relay also arranged in the said circuit, and firing mechanism arranged in. circuit with the relay and controlled by the same.

11. An automatic gun firing device including a rear sighting device, a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and moved with the adjustment thereof, means for mounting the rear sighting device for permitting independent movement of the same, boxes or casings connected With the front sight and the rear sighting device and provided with iris diaphragms, a source of light located within one of the boxes or casings, a selenium contact located Within the other box or casing and arranged to be illuminated by said source of light when the apertures of the diaphragms are in almement, a bellows connecting the boxes or cas-' ings, a. circuit including the selenium contact and provided with a resistance and having a source of current supply, a relay also arranged in the said circuit, firing mechanism operated circuit closing device connected with the rear sight and arranged to close the circuit when the front sight, is moved into alinement with the rear sight and the'object at which the rearsi ghting device is aimed, and means for projecting a beam of light upon the said circuit closing device when the 13. An automatic firing device including a rear sighting device. a front sight designed to be connected with a gun and to move With the adjustment thereof. a light operated circuit closing device carried by the rear sighting device, and means for projecting a beam mined position.

14. Tn an automatic firing device, a front I of light upon the circuit closing device when the said sights are brought. to a predetersight connected to and movable with a gun, a rear sight movable lndependently of the gun, an electrical firing device for the gun, a

selenium cell in circuit with the firing de- 16. In an automatic gun firing device, the combination with front and rear gun sights, of an electrical gun firing device, a selenium cell controlling the operation of said firing device and means carried by the gun forprojecting a beam of light upon said selenium cell when said sights are brought into alinement with each other and with the object aimed at to permit operation of said firing device.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERNAN CONILL. \Vitnesses FIQNCOIS G. on CISNEROS, MICHEL N 0T0. 

